Bottle packaging machine



Aug. 11, 1959 J. F. cl-:LLA v2,898,715

BOTTLE PACKAGING MACHINE Filed Jan. 2, 1957 13 Sheets-Sheet l Aug. 1l, 1959 J. F. cELLA BOTTLE PACKAGING MACHINE Filed Jan. 2. 1957 13 Sheets-Sheet? Aug. 11, 1959 J. F. cELLA BOTTLE PACKAGING MACHINE 13 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. 2. 1957 Aug. 11, 1959 J. F. cELLA BOTTLE PACKAGING MACHINE 13 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Jan. 2. 1957 INVENTOR.

JOS/p f.' Cibi# y afn a// Aug. 1l, 1959 J. F. CELLA BOTTLEPACKAGING MACHINE 13 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Jan. 2, 1957 Aug. 1l', 1959 .1 -F. cELLA BOTTLE PACKAGING MACHINE Filed Jan. 2, 1957 13 Sheets-Sheet 6 www..

Mdm,

mug.

INVENTOR.

dOSEP/ E CELL/Q Aug. ll, 1959 Y .1.F. CELLA BOTTLE PACKAGING MACHINE 13 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed Jan. 2. 1957 4 fram/frs 13 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed Jan. 2. 1957- INVENTDR.

Aug. 1l, 1959 J'. F. cELLA BOTTLE PACKAGING MACHINE 13 Sheets-Sheet 9 Filed Jan. 2. 1957 INVENTOR.

dass f1 cau- Afro/wins Aug. 11, 1959 v J. F. cELLA BOTTLE PACKAGING MACHINE 1s sheets-sheet `1o Filed Jan. 2. 1957 Y Aug. 1l, 1959 Y J. F. cELLA BOTTLE PACKAGING MACHINE 1s sheets-'sheet 11 Filed Jan. 2. 1957 w A@ TQ. MA m c 0 W. f A m P i J W54 .6 .6 .4, 6 AY .Mh l wf. WC Hw .A s. i A .LM 4 C llliflvl M u ...wow 4 .a rv.. u f.. @wmf 1 Aus. 11, 1959 J. F. CELLA y 2,898,715

BOTTLE PACKAGING MACHINE Filed Jan. 2, 195'? 13 Sheets-Sheet 12 INVENTOR.

asf/H A 654.44

INVENTOR.

,47m/wins 15 Sheets-Sheet 13 .fasi/w A can?l .iwZi 6' PM J. F. CELLA BOTTLE PACKAGING MACHINE Aug. 11, 1959 Filed Jan. 2, 1957 United States Patent O BOTTLE PACKAGING MACHINE Joseph F. Cella, Bronxville, N.Y., assignor to Cella Machinery, Inc., New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Application January 2, 1957, Serial No. 632,087

Claims. (Cl. 53-62) 'llhis invention relates to bottle-handling machines and particularly to a machine for automatically iilling bottle cases or crates with bottles. As used herein, the term bottle is intended as a generic expression covering containers made of glass, paper, plastic, metal, or the like, which contain food, beverages, or any substances desired to be so packaged, and such containers may not necess-arily be in the conventional shape of glass bottles. ln the illustrative embodiment of the invention herein shown and described, conventional milk bottles and milk bottle crates are the containers being handled; and it is understood that they are shown only by way of example and that the machine may be adapted to handle other types of containers without departing from the spirit of the invention. Attention is invited to the copending application in which l am a joint inventor, Serial No. 737,991, led May 14, 1958, which discloses a machine embodying an earlier concept of an invention relating to the same art as the one herein disclosed.

This invention is embodied in a machine adapted to continuously receive a succession of bottles land a succession of bottle crates and automatically ll each crate with the required number of bottles.

The primary object of the instant invention is the improvement upon the machine disclosed in said copending application so that the machine is more eiicient in operation and `more certain of the intended results. As is more specifically disclosed hereinafter, the machine is adapted to receive upon a conveyor a succession of bottles from bottle-lling and capping machines. Upon being re* ceived from such conveyor the machine carries the bottles forward to a bottle-indexing station. At the same time a plurality of empty bottle cases or crates are being fed to the machine on another conveyor. One by one these cases enter the machine and are automatically moved therein into a lbottle-receiving position at a crate-positioning station. A bottle carrier disposed for movement between the bottle-indexing station and the crate-positioning station is adapted to grip bottles in the indexing station and carry them toward and into a crate in the cratepositioning station. The lled crate then moves on its conveyor out of the machine and an empty crate takes its place and the operation is repeated.

In carrying out this primary object a concomitant object is the provision of improved crate reject mechanism operable to withhold the deposit of bottles in a crate disposed in a bottle-receiving station if, for any reason, the crate will not satisfactorily receive or seat the bottles therewithin. This crate reject feature will cause the bottles to be withdrawn from the crate. In carrying out this object, l have provided means for gripping a plurality of bottles at a bottle-indexing station and moving Such bottles to Ian awaiting crate in a crate-positioning station, with such means responsive to the improper entry or seating of the bottles in the crate to elfect an interruption of continued movement of the bottles into the crate and a withholding of deposit of the bottles in the crate. If the bottles have entered the crate a determined distance, even though improperly seated in the crate, the bottles will be released in the crate. However, if the bottles encounter an obstacle before entering the crate a determined distance they are withdrawn from the crate, and the crate is rejected and sent on out of the machine. The withheld bottles are thereafter deposited in the next empty crate conveyed into the crate-positioning station. It will be recognized therefore that a moving means causes movement of a bottle carrier means through a predetermined cycle of movement between the bottle supporting station and the crate supporting station so that containers such as bottles are transferred to a crate in the crate supporting station. If a bottle encounters an object during the predetermined cycle of movement prior to satisfactory placement within a crate, means responsive to the pressure of the lbottle causes an interruption of the predetermined cycle of movement and a reversal of movement of the bottle carrier means to withdraw the bottle from contact with the crate or whatever object is impeding its predetermined movement. Means are also provided for enabling continued movement through the predetermined cycle of movement when the bottle has been inserted into the crate a predetermined distance.

Conditions preventing satisfactory entry or seating of bottles in a crate might be a bottle accidentally in the crate when the crate entered the crate-positioning station, deformed crate cells, deformed crate-stacking ears, or any number of other occurrences. Even the wrong size crate or an improperly positioned crate may be the cause of improper entry or seating of bottles thereby giving rise to actuation of the crate reject mechanism.

Another object of the invention serving to accomplish the primary object is the provision of improved crate stop mechanism which permits entry of but one crate at a time to the crate-positioning station.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of improved means in the crate-positioning station to hold a crate properly aligned to receive bottles for deposit therewithin.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an improved bottle-indexing station where the bottles are collected prior to being gripped by carrier means for transport to and deposit in an awaiting crate.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of an improved bottle carrier for gripping, transporting, and depositing bottles in an awaiting crate.

Other objects, advantages, and meritorious features Will more fully appear from the specification, claims, and accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 (Sheet l) is a front elevation of a machine embodying my invention; j

Fig. 2 (Sheet `2) is a top view of the machine shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 (Sheet 3) is an end view of the machine shown in Fig. 1 taken along the line 3-3 of Fig.. 1; t

Fig. 4 (Sheet 4) is a cross sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 (Sheet 5) is a side view of the crate-positioning station looking from the back of the machine toward the front taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. 6; g

Fig. 6 (Sheet 6) is a top view of the crate-positioning station taken along the line 6-6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 (Sheet 7) is a side view of a crate actuated switch LS-3 taken along the line 7--7 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 (Sheet 7) is a perspective View of a portion of the machine shown in Fig. 4;

Fig. 9 (Sheet 8) is a cross sectional view taken on the lines 9 9 of Figs. 5 and 15; i

Fig. 10 (Sheet 9) is a top view of a bottle crate in the crate-positioning station taken along the line 10--10 of Fig. 5;

--tions l'aregenerally shown in 'Figs 1-3.

Fig. l1 (Sheet 9) is a view of the discharge end of the crate-positioning station taken along the line 11-11 of Fig. 4;

Fig. ,-12. .(Sheet ,10) yis a cross sectional viewlooking frbm-'thefrontof themachine toward the back through the.bottle-indexingstation takenalong theline 12-'12 of Fig. 3;`

,Fig 413 (Sheet 1.1) is a schematic wiring diagram of the .electriccircuits of the machine; and

Eig. l14 (Sheet 12) is a schematic diagram of thefluid pressure lines of the machine;

,Fig 15 v(Sheet 13.) `isfa top view of Vthe ,bottle carrier shown in Fig. 9;

Pig. 1'6`(Sh'eet 2113) "is a cross sectional view through the botle carrier taken fon theline 1'6-16 of Fi'gn .15; and, e Fig. 17 (Sheet 2) Vis a Vcrosfs sectional view taken on thelflle 17--17 of Fig. 2.

General ycharacter 'This 'invention is embodied in a machine which is intended lto accomplish 'the nal step` in a bottle-filling, capping, and packaging process. Thebottles leave the capping machine usually in single file, one bottle followanother, and areso moved along upon a conveyor to a pointat which -they are deposited in cases or crates. These crates comprise square or rectangularly shaped boxes adapted `to contain a plurality of bottles. When glass bottles are packaged in crates, the crates are generally :provided with `partitions defining bottle-receiving cells. Whenthe bottles are gformed of metal or paper, the -partitions are lfrequently omitted. When the crates are Vprovided with gcells, the cells are generally arranged ih-a pluralityeofrovvs. The crates'usually move in single le -upon a conveyor to a point V'adjacent the moving bottles where the latter are deposited in the crates; the filled crates -then moving to a storage space or directly onto `itrucks, vto :be distributed to consumers. This invention contemplates a fully automatic machine which will'tr'ansfer the bottlesto crates.

The bottles move in single Yile into the -machine'upon a kconveyor and immediately thereafter are marshalled intoaplurality-of rows-uponanother conveyor, the numberof rows corresponding to the number ofvrows of bottles to be received in the crates, or when the crates 'are provided with cells, corresponding to the number of rows Lof cells. lUpon this latter conveyor the bottles move toward atransfer vdevice which selects the proper number of bottles `from each -row and transfers them to an awaiting empty fcrate. When :the crate is lled, it

v-moves out of 5rthe machine.

The various `mechanisms lwhich perform these opera- They are supportcdupon-'a framework 30 having -feet 31 Vstanding on the floor. An electric motor '-32shown=in Fig. `14, coupled-with Ia hydraulic `pump 34, connected by line 36 to a hydraulic iluid storage tank 3'8, Aserves as a source fof motivepowerfor themachine. A fluid pressure rotary motor 40, connected to thefluid pressure discharge line of `the pu'mp,vis'coupled through 'a reduction drive 42 to what is hereinafter Vtermed the Vt-riform conveyor genvvei'ally indicated at 44.

Bottle conveyor showin Vand enterlthe vrnarshaling device at `and in the direction of arrow 54 in Fig. 2. As theyenter the marshaling device they slide, one behind the other, over a platform 56. They slide overtheplatformibecause they are urged forward by the bottles behind them on the fsingle-line conveyor. The platform 54 is just long enough 'to receive three'bottles, orthat number of bottlesxorresponding to the number of rows of bottles that may be received in the crates. At the far end of the platform an electric control switch LSA, Whose function is hereinafter explained, is adapted to be actuated by a lever 58 pivoted as at 60 to the machine, with the lever 58 yielding to the pressure of bottles urged against it to trip the switch.

Running along the back of the rplatform 56 is a back stop 62 which forms a continuation of one of the side walls of the single-line conveyor, vnot shown. The back `stop is rigidly fastened tothe fra-me 30spacedthereabove as is clearly shown in Fig. l. A ram 64 is adapted to reciprocate beneath the back stop. The ram is mounted on a pair of parallel rods 66 which are received through bearing blocks 68 which are mounted on the frame 30. A hydraulic cylinder 70 mounted on the frame 30 is provided with a piston rod 72 pivoted to a lever 74. The lever 74 is pivoted to frame 30 as at 76. The upper end of the lever 7-4 is received between a pair of ears 78 connected to the ram 64, and 'is pivotally vconnected to the ears as at 80. Upon reciprocation of piston .rod 72, the ram 64 is reciprocated across platform '56. The ram may be provided with an end stop 82 to prevent bottles on the Singleeline conveyor from entering upon the platform `56 when the 'ram is in an extended position. The ram `is lshown in the retracted position in Figs. 1 and 2. The ram may be extended transversely across platform 56 to urge bottles olf of the platform and onto the triform conveyor '44. `Hydraulic uid is supplied to ram 70 by lines hereinafter described.

The triform conveyor 44 comprises the conveying means adapted to convey bottles from the marshalingrdevice 50 to the bottle-accumulating or indexing station which is generally indicated in Figs. 1 and 2 at 84. This conveyor is continuusly driven during the machines operation. It comprises-three movable endless belts 44a, '44b, and 44e. While these belts may beof any desirable construction, I haveffound that belts 'formed ofpivotally connected plates of conventional construction are entirely suitable. The characterlof-the belts should be Isuch/that while they will move bottles yresting thereupon forwardly, the bottles will -slide relative to the conveyor whenthe `forwardmovement of-thebottles is interruptedby a`bar rier or the like.

The belts are 'horizontally supported subjacent their load-carrying spans by atable 86 extending along under .neath thebelts and secured tothe frame 30. The return spans of the -belts are :supported by rollers 88 as shown in Fig. 1. The belts are entrained at opposite ends .about rollers f90 and 92 as shownfin Figs. l-and 3 which are mounted onsuitable shafts'91 and 93 supported by frame 30. Shaft-93zisprovided'with a sprocket, not shown, over which reductiondrive242 is entrained Ito drive shaft 93 land in 'turn the belts. The bottles on the triformcon- -veyor are preventedffrom moving sideways off` ofthe conveyor by `.parallel guide walls 96 supported by suitable brackets '98 .whichare secured in any convenient fashion to frame 30. rlThe ,guide walls 'L96 extend from a point adjacent thefmarshalingfdevice 50 at one end ofthe convveyor to a point vadjacent vthe bottle-accumulating station 84 at the opposite end ,of the conveyor.

A s viewed `in Fig. 2vthe=bottles move ,from rightto left and as they approach the .bottlefaccumulating station84, they pass between and around aligning rvvalls or guide walls 100 disposedabove the -table portions186a. Such walls are supported by a U-shapedbracket 102, as shown V4inFigs. -l-3, which isconnected in` any convenient manner `s'hovvninFig. -l with theirouter free ends disposed adja- Acenttable portionse-86a withthe walls extendingangularly upwardly as .at 10S and thereafter horizontally toward ,the bottle-accumulatingstation. Those-endsof the walls .adjacentrthe bottle-accumulating lstation are supported by depending .arms 1.1.11), only l.the upper ends of which @Le shown 1in Fig. 3 and which are :secured `to the frame as at -112in any convenient manner, with the lower ends ofthe arms being secured to the walls .100. The Walls 100 serve to align accurately :into rows ythe bottles moving along the triform conveyor, and the side elevational shape of the walls shown in Fig. 1 is for the purpose of engaging the bottles adjacent their `bases to shift them laterally on the belts as necessary. The raised portions 112 of the walls keep the bottles in alignment as they move toward the accumulating station 84.

Bottle indexing station As the bottles enter the bottle-indexing or accumulating station 84, they are `supported by a vertically shiftable floor 112 'shown in Figs. 1 and 12. -Referring particularly to Fig. `12, the door comprises a platform havinga plurality of parallel web portions `114 which extend in` theldirection of travel of the bottles moving across the platform, indicated by the arrow, with the webs connected together at opposite ends by transversely extend ing portions 116 integral with the webs. Intermediate their length the webs are connected by transverse portion 118 provided with a pair of `depending ears 120. Four depending posts 122 are rigidly secured at each corner ofthe ,platform 112. The posts 122 are received within bearings 124which are housed within bearing blocks 126 connected in any suitable fashion `to `the frame 30 of the machine. The lower end of each post 122 may be threaded to receive a pair of positioning nuts 128 which may be tightened together to be locked in position on the post. Such nuts are Iadapted to abut the underside of the bearing block 126 and limit the upward `movement of the platform or door 112. A switch LS11, whose function is hereinafter described, is mounted in any suitable :fashionlto the frame 30 of the machine to betripped 'by the lower end of 'one of `the posts 122 and the relationship of the lswitch to `one of the posts is shown in Fig. i2.

To raise `and lower `the floor 112 a fluid pressure Acylin- -der 130 is mounted lin any suitable fashion upon frame 30 and `is provided with a piston rod 132 which is connected to a fence block 134. A shaft 136 `rotatably mounted at opposite ends in frame 30 provides a fulcrum for a modified `bell crank lever 138. One arm of lever 138 is pivotally connected to the fence block 134 as at 140. Pivot 140 may be in the form of a pivot pin received through apair of `spaced ears 142 on the fence block with the lever extending into the space between the ears'.`\Another arm `of the lever 138 is pivotally connected `as at 144 to a link 146 which is in turn received between the ears 120 to `be pivoted thereto upon a pivot pin 148. It is now apparent `that upon vertical movement of piston rod A132, lever 138 will edect a vertical shifting of oor 112.

The vertical :shiftability of floor 112 permits the door to be withdrawn from below bottles resting thereupon at `the time that the bottles `are transferred from the bottle-accumulating station to an awaiting crate. The :bottles are shifted laterally out of the accumulating station by the carrier 52 and unless the floor is lowered there would be a 'tendency for the 'bottles to 'drag thereacross during their transfer 'out of the accumulating station, such drag upsetting `their vertical suspension from the bottle carrier 52.

`Disposed fat 'the discharge end of the triform conveyor is a plate '150 which is mounted upon the frame `3! as by screws for the like 15.2. The plate 150 extends over the rollers 92 which support that end of the conveyor belts adjacent the bottle-accumulating station. The plate 150 substantially bridges the gap between the rollers 92 and the Abelts entrained `thereupon and the door 112. The plate 150 does not Yextend completely to the door 112 but is spaced `therefrom a slight distance as shown in Fig. 4'l2-to permita lbottle .fence 154 to shift vertically between the plate and the -toor112. The fence is adapted to prevent bottles leaving the triform conveyor from entering the `bottle-accumulating station while the .bottle carrier 52 is in the process of `transferring and depositing bottles in an ,awaiting crate. The fence .may be secured to the fence block 134 by means of screws or the like 156. The upper edge of the fence may be tapered as at 158 so that it will readily enter between bottles resting on the floor 112 and upon the plate 150. As shown in Fig. 12 the fence 158 is disposed just beneath a bottle indicated at Ba which rests upon the plate and is disposed closely adjacent the preceding vbottle `Bb which `is resting uponthe floor 112. As the rfence 154 is elevated, which elevation occurs simultaneously with the dropping of `floor 112, `bottle B,l may be lifted slightly from plate 150 and pivoted rearwardiy vso that the fence 154 `can slide up in front of the bottle. In order to prevent breakage of bottle Ba in the Vevent 'that "it `fails to tilt rearwardly fand permit the fence to slide up in front of it, but `instead `is raised by the fence toward the `overhead carrier frame 30a, I have provided three resilient blocks 160 shown in Fig. 3 which are secured in any convenient fashion to the carrier-supporting frame 30a. The blocks are disposed directly above bottle Ba, and the relationship of the blocks to the fence 154 isshown in Fig. 1. As one or more bottles are raised by the fence through failure to tilt rearwardly and permit the fence to pass upwardly in front of them, the mouths of the bottles strike the blocks 160 instead of the carrier-supporting frame 30a and such resistance to continued upward movement offered by the blocks 160 permits the fence ,154 to slide up in front of the bottles.

Sensing means are provided which are responsive -to the presence of a determined plurality of bottles in the accumulating station to cause actuation-of the bottle carrier to transfer the bottles in the station to an awaiting crate. Such sensing means are mounted at the' bottle-accumulating station for shiftable movement toward and away from the station. Such shiftable `movement ofthe sensing means `is provided in order to remove the sensing lmeans away from the stationwhen lthe bottles are `trans- Aferred therefrom and to return the sensing means to the station when the transfer of ythe bottles to an awaiting crate has been completed and the carrier has returned to the station in preparation for transferring another group of bottles to a succeeding crate. Such sensing means are shown in Figs. 1, 3, and 12 at 162 and include a shiftably supported switch box 164 adapted to `house a plurality of electric switches LS-6, -LS-7, and LS-8, one switch for each row of bottles moving into the accumulating station. Obviously a greater or lesser number of switches might `be provided depending `upon `the number of `rows of bottles. Each switch is adapted to be actuated independently by a plunger 166 extending outwardly through the wall 16S of the shiftable switch box. Each plunger may be supported Ifor shiftable movement by any suitable bearing means shown at 170. The plunger 166 may be connected to its switch by means of a U-shaped bracket 172. The switches are not shown in Fig. 12for the reason that they are of conventional construction.

The switch box 164 is provided with four depending ears 174 shown `in Figs. 3 and 12 arranged `intwo aligned pairs and through eachpair extends a rod 176. The rods 176 are fixedly secured to the ears and are `themselves supported `by four Vupstanding bearing blocks 178, two bearing blocks for each rod. Each bearing block is provided, `as shown in Fig. 12, with a bearing 180, `which may be held in its `supporting block by a pair of snap rings or the like 182. Such bearings blocks are mounted in any convenient fashion `upon frame 30. It is apparent that the switch box 164 may -shift upon the rods 176 relative to the frame 30.

1n order to shift the switch box, linkage is yprovided connecting the box with the mechanism for raising andlowering the table 112 `and. fence 1-54. .Snchlinkage `includes alever184 pivoted as at :186to the frame 30jand extending through a slot 188 in the frame to be received between a pair of spaced ears 190 connected to the underside of the switch box and pivotally connected to the ears by means of a pivot pin 192. The lower end of lever 184 is pivotally connected as at 194 to a pair of adjustment links 196 and 198 connected together by a screw-threaded vmember 200 having lock nuts 202 thereupon. Adjustment link 198 is pivotally connected to an arm of the bell crank 138 as at 204. It is apparent that upon swinging of lever 138 about its pivot shaft 136, the switch box 164 will be reciprocated, and that as the table 112 is lowered and the fence 154 is raised, the switch box 164 will be retracted away from bottles in the bottle-accumulating station.

The switch box 164 may be provided with a nylon or .the like abutment 206 which is secured in any convenient fashion to the switch box and is adapted to be engaged by the leading bottles E of the group of bottles entering the accumulating station. The function of the abutment 206 is to prevent the entire force of the bottles in the accumulating station from being taken by the plungers 166. Without the provision of the abutment the plungers 166 would themselves have to stop continued movement of the bottles in the accumulating station when the station is full. The relationship of the abutment 206 to the plungers 166 is such that the plungers will be shifted inwardly before the bottles come to rest against the abutment.

Bottle carrier The machine is provided with means for transferring bottles from the accumulating station laterally and downwardly into each of a succession of crates successively positioned in the crate-supporting station. Such means is responsive tothe pressure of a bottle improperly entering or seating in an awaiting crate to withdraw the bottle or bottles from the crate, or if the bottles have entered the crate a determined distance, to release the bottles therein even though one or more is not properly seated. Such means includes a yieldably supported portion or part, namely, the carrier 52, which engages the bottles to be transferred and which will yield to the pressure or resistance of a bottle improperly seating in the crate of actuate control means causing the withdrawal of the bottles.

T he bottle carrier 52 is supported for laterally shiftable movement in guideway means which extend over both the bottle-accumulating station and the crate-supporting station with that portion of the guideway means disposed above the crate-supporting station being mounted for vertically shiftable movement toward and away from a crate in the crate-supporting station. When the carrier shifts laterally from a position over the accumulating station to a position over the crate-supporting station, in such latter position it is carried by the vertically shiftable portion of the guideway means, and such portion of the guideway means carries the carrier toward and away from a crate in the crate-supporting station to move bottles suspended lfrom the carrier into the crate. In Fig. 3 the bottle carrier is shown disposed above a bottle crate CL and the carrier is laterally shiftable to the left to a position disposed above bottles in the accumulating station 82.

That portion of the carrier guideway means supported for vertical reciprocation above the crate-supporting station is hereinafter referred to as the carriage. The carriage rests upon a yoke connected to a vertically operable piston. The carriage is so supported on the yoke that in the event a bottle suspended from the carrier improperly seats in a crate in the crate-supporting station, the carriage will shift relative to the yoke with such relative movement causing the actuation of means which serve to cause the yoke to reverse its movement and raise the carriage and consequently the carrier toward the position shown in Fig. 3, all as more particularly described hereinafter. l

The carrier is shown in Figs. l, 3, 9, 15, and 16. It includes a plurality of pairs of opposed bottle-gripping bars, corresponding in number to the` rows of bottles entering the bottle-accumulating station. When the apparatus is adapted, as is the apparatus herein disclosed, to fill in one cycle an awaiting bottle crate, the number of pairs of bottle-gripping bars will correspond to the number of rows of bottles which may be received in each crate. In the apparatus herein disclosed, three rows of bottles are to be received in each crate and therefore three pairs of opposed bottle-gripping bars are provided. Such bottle-gripping or clamping bars are shown in Figs. 3 and 9 at 210, 212, 214, 216, 218, and 220. The bars are supported within a carrier frame 222, see Figs. 3 and l5, for relative laterally slidable movement. The frame 222 is itself slidably disposed between the guideway means comprising guideways 224 and 226 which are mounted upon the carrier-supporting frame 30a shown in Fig. l. These guideways are parallel and extend, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, substantially halfway across the width of the machine where they meet the vertically shiftable carriage which includes the guideways 228 and 230.

The carrier frame 222, as shown in Fig. 15, includes opposed side members 232 and 234 secured together in spaced relation by the tie members 236 and 238, with bolts or the like 240 extending through members 236 and 238 and into the side members 232 and 234. The side members 232 and 234 are each provided with an outwardly opening slot 242 within which is received the guideway means as shown in Fig. 16 whereby the carrier frame 222 is supported for lateral slidable movement. A carrier bridge 244 extending between the side members 232 and supported for lateral slidable movement. A carrier bridge 244 extending between the side members 232 and 234 and connected thereto as by bolts or the like 246 is coupled with the end of the piston rod 248 of the fluid pressure cylinder 250 shown in Figs. 3, 9, and l5. The cylinder 250 serves to laterally shift the bottle carrier from the position over the bottle-accumulating station shown in Fig. 2 to the position disposed above the crate-positioning station as shown in Fig. 3. The outer end of piston rod 248 is threaded as at 252, see Fig. l5, and a nut 254 is threaded thereupon and bears against the bridge 244. The bridge is provided with a laterally extending ear 256 having a horizontally extending threaded pin 258 threadedly connected thereto and locked in position by a lock nut 260, the purpose of such pin being hereinafter described.

A iluid pressure cylinder 262, shown in Fig. 9, is slidably supported upon the bottle carrier for movement relative to the carrier frame. The cylinder is provided with a piston rod 264 which is threadedly connected at its outer end to a member 268 and locked in position by a set screw 266. The opposite end of the cylinder is provided with a pair of spaced-apart ears 270, as shown in Figs. 9 and l5, between which is received the upper end of member 272 which is connected between the ears by a pin or the like 274. Members 268 and 272 are slidably mounted on a pair of piston-supporting rods 276 and 278, shown in Figs. 9, l5, and 16, which are received at their opposite ends within the tie members 236 and 238 of the carrier frame and are secured thereto by the set screw 280. Rod 276 is threaded from its opposite ends inwardly and two pairs of lock nuts 282 and 284 are threaded over opposite ends of the rod and abut the members 268 and 272 to limit their sliding movement on the rods. Upon adjustment of the lock nuts the movement of members 268 and 272 may be accurately determined.

The inside of each of the side members 232 and 234 of the carrier frame is provided with a longitudinally extending slot shown in Fig. 16 at 286 and 288. Four bottle-gripping bar-supporting plates, shown in Fig. 15, at 290, 292, 294, and 296, are disposed within the frame in edge abutment, with the outside plates 290 and 296 received at their outer edges within the grooves 286 and `9 288 .of ,the carrier trarne. Grooves 286 and 288 h elp ,support the plates 290 and 29.6 within .the frame and locate all `of the plates laterally within the frame.` The plates `are supported in coplanar alignment within vthe frame .by means of bolts 298 extending through the members 268 and 272 and provided With nuts 30,0. Four lsuch bolts are provided `with two `of the .bolts in each of Ithe members 268 and 2.72. The bolts in member 268 connect such member with the plates 29.0 Aand the .plate v294 while the bolts `inmember 272 connectsuch member with Vthe plates 29,6 and 29,2.

Suspended from plates 290-296 `are the .paired bottlegripping bars `hereinbefore mentioned. One barof each pair of bars is connected ,to two ofthe platos while the other bar ,is connected to the .other two plates. .For eX- ample, bar 2 10, `shown in `Figs. 3 `and 15 ,A is connected by bolts 3102 `to ,plates 29.0 and 429,4 While itsopposed 4bar 2,12 4is connected `by bolts ,30410 .plates A2.9.2 Yand .296. The sante holds `true for `the other bars. With the bars ,thus connected to the plates,` upon a pressurization `of iirstone .end ,and then the `other 4end of the cylinder262, the bars are either opened or closed. Fluid pressure lines ,for the cylinder 26H2 `are shown at 3.06 and 308 in Fig. 9.

'I he bottlegripping bars are each `provided with a downwardly extending por-tion 310 and `a ,pair of spacedapart horizontally extending 4ear portions 312. Into the Year `portions the screws 302 and ,304;are received for connecting the `bares to the plates. As described in `the `copending application of Cella and Gancia Serial No. 417,448, ledMarch 19, 1954, the bottle-,gripping bars are provided with nylon `inserts 314, such insertsbeing ,so shared `.that .they are recevedaboutthe mouths ,0f .bottles dispsed between the bars to `hold the bottles ,gripped .by the bars in determined spaced relation. A

Carriage The guideway extensions 22S and 230 are ,carried by a carriage 320. The carriage is shown in "Figs `2, 3, 4, ,8, and 17. The guideway extensions Aare connected as by bolts 2.3.1 to the underside Of the Parallel armsl .and .318 ofthe carriagew Thearriase ismountsd tQr vertigab ly slidable movement upon a pair of posts 3,22and 32,4. The opposite ends of theposts have reduced diameterpgrtionslat 3125, se@ Fig- 4,.Wh1ich are anchoredjin any Suitable fashion at opposite ends inthe frame 3i) and subframe 30e. The carriage includes, in addition to the ,twoparalvlel arms'3gl6 and 3j18, a bight portion 326, shown in "Figs. 4 and=8, 1at opposite ends of Whichlare bearings 328 which are received about the posts 322 and '32.4. Formed p integrally with and Vextending upwardly away from the bight 326 of the carriage is a truss`330 which, atthe outer ends of-the arms thereof, is provided with bearings '33:2 which are received about'the posts 322 and `324. The Vbearings 326 and `332 support :the carriage for vertically slidab'le movement upon -the posts.

'The parallel Vcarriage arms 3 16 and 318 are each provided with a web 333 as shown inFigs. 3 and T7-along .the outside thereof, which extendto the bearings 326 and 338. Extending between the arms '318 and 320fisabridge portion 335 which supports `the piston `end of the Huid pressure cylinder 250. Bolts or the like '354, shown in Fig. 3, secure the cylinder gto `the bridge. To secure the rear end of cylinder 250 `to the carriage, a pairof arms 350 are provided as shown in Figs. 3 and .4, which are integral `with the bight portion Y326 of the carriage. A bridge portion 351 extends between thearms 350 and the rear end ofiluid pressure cylinder -250rests'hereupon and is-secured theretoby means o fbolts or thelike 35'2.

When the carriage is at its uppermost position oftravel onlthe posts, the guideway ,extensions-228 and230 thereof are aligned with the guideways 224 and 226 such `thatthe carrier -52 can slide from the guideways 224 and-226 ontp the guideways 228 and230. Thereafter, uponilowering of--the carriage 320, the carrier is moved downwardly ,tpward a crate C in the cratesupporting statin.

10 :Yoke

YIn order `to shift the carriage vertically, a yoke *head 334, shown in Figs. 4 and `8, is provided. The yoke iis generally '|"shaped `as shown-in Fig. 8 and is `mounted on the upper end of a piston rod 336 which is received within a fluid pressure cylinder 338, the cylinder being -mounted upon a cross piece 337 `which is supportedby resilient blocks 339. The yoke `is adapted to abut the underside -of the carriage 320 as shown in Figs. 4 and 8 'and -upon upward'movement ofpiston rod 336, the carriage 320 is carried upwardly. Upon downward movement ofthe piston rod 336, the weight of thecarriage 320 and the carrier supported thereupon will ca usethe carriage to `follow the yoke downwardly. In Yorder to tie the yoke and carriage together but still permit relative shiftable movement `therebetween, in the event that a bottle suspended from the carriage should strike Aan obstacle in a crate toward which the carrier is moving, therebyinterrupting downward movement of the carriage, a pair of pins or the like 340 are received upwardly lthroughbearings 342 in -the carriage, which bearings-are held in A,the carriage by the-retainer rings 344. The pins extend upwardly above the carriage where any suitable means, such as-nuts 346, are threaded onthe pins to -prevent `the pins from dropping out of the carriage. The nuts 346 also serve `to slightly compress light springs 34S, -which are received over the pins 340m bear at'their lower ends against the carriage.

.Crate supporting station The cratesare fed `to the machine on `a conveyor 356 shown in Figs. 1, 2, 5, and 6 in the direction of the arrow shown in Figs. 2 and 5. The crate conveyor `includes :a leg 358 which stands upon'the door. Extending :trans- Nerselyof the conveyor between the leg and the frame 30 are a pair V.of vertically spacedsapart members 368.` :Extending along the conveyor at `opposite sides are guide .rails 36.0, whichare secured tothe leg V358i and frame =as`by bolts orthe like 362. Extending along thelength ,of the conveyor 356and resting upon the members 368 -are lupwardly open chain conveyor guide channels 372 and 374. Crossmembers 3.71 secured to frame 30 support the opposite .endsof the conveyor chain channels, as shown in Fig. 5. Channel 372 supports the upper crate-feed span of the` chain conveyor 376 shown in dotted outline in Fig. 5, while channel 374 supports the return s panof the ,conveyor` chain. The crateconveyorextends through the crate-,supporting station hereinabove men- ;tioned andis adapted tofeed crates into the station and `carry them out of the station. Suitable sprockets, not shown, are provided `over which the chain 376 is enftrained.

The crate-supporting station'is shown in Figs. 5 and V6. As a crate moves into the kcrate-supporting station and reaches a determined position therein, it is raised off of the,chainconveyor376. `Cratesfollowing the one raised `oi of the conveyor ,are stopped by crate-interrupting mechanism. The elevating mechanism for raising each crate off of the conveyor chain3i'6 includes a iluid pres- `sure,cylinder `371,8 -whichdstbolted as at 384i) to the frame 30ofthe machine. 'The Huid pressure cylinder includes -a piston connected `as at 332 to a link 384. The link 3,84 is pivotally connected as at 386 to a lever 38S. Thellever 388isfiixed1y connected to a shaft 39) Awhich is supported at opposite ends on a pair of side members 392 which entend between upright portions of Vthe fr-aine 3l) and are `connectedtl'iereto as at 394. Another shaft 396 extends between the members 392 and is supported therein. `Suitable'bearings are provided-for supporting `ehafts `39d and 396 in members 392.

Mounted upon each of the shafts are `a Vpair of upwardly extending arms. The arms mounted on shaft 39.4 are indicated ,at 39,8 and ,400. The arms 398,and400 Aare iixed ,on shaft 394 to move therewith. Arms 492 rand 494er@ mounted@ .Shaft 396 t0 more therewith. 4The 11 arms 398, 400, 402, and 404 are connected together by crate-lifting bars 406 and 408. The crate-lifting bars are pivotally connected to the arms as at 410 and 412 as shown in Fig. 5. Upon retraction of the piston into the cylinder 378, the link 384 is moved to the right as viewed in Fig. and the crate-supporting bars 406 and 408 are disposed in the solid outline position shown in Fig. 5. Upon extension of the piston of cylinder 378 the cratesupporting bars are raised to the dotted outline position shown at 408g in Fig. 5, and a crate resting on the chain 376 is raised to the dotted outline position shown at C-l.

Means are provided on the upper surface of the crateelevating or crate-supporting bars 406 and 408 for accurately locating each crate on the bars at the time of its elevation. Such means includes a slidably mounted block 414 shown in Figs. 5 and 6. Each of the bars is provided with a slot 416 therethrough closed at the upper end by the block 43.4 and into which extends a depending part 418 integral with the block and horizontally bored to receive a set screw 420 having a lock nut 422 overlying one end of part 4l8 and determining movement of the block toward the right as viewed in Fig. 5 The part 418 is provided with a bore portion into which a spring 424 is received bearing at one end against the bottom of the bore and extending out of the part 418 at the other end and seated within a backup member 426 which abuts the opposite end of the slot. The bottom of the slot is closed by a plate 428 which is screwed to the palt 418 as at 430. The spring 424 permits yielding movement of the block 414 to the left as viewed in Fig. 5. The block 414 on each of the crate-elevating and positioning bars is adapted to engage the inside surface 432 of the front end wall of the crate Ca as shown in dotted outline in Fig. 5 where block 414 is indicated at 414m Extending along one side of the conveyor within the crate-supporting station and secured to the frame 30 as by bolts or the like 434, as shown in Fig. 5, is an electric switch supporting bar 436 to which an electric switch LS-3 is secured on that side of the bar outwardly of the conveyor. The switch is described in greater detail hereinater. Extending along the opposite side of the conveyor within the crate-positioning station is a plate 438 as shown in Fig. 8, behind which is mounted a limit switch .LS-15 having an actuating arm 448 extending into the crate-positioning station through a slot 442 in plate 438.

Means are provided for engaging the upper leading edge of the crate and accurately positioning the crate in the bottle-receiving position. Such means in cooperation with the positioning blocks 414 on the crate-elevating bars 4496 and 408 hold successive crates properly aligned with bottles carried thereinto by the bottle carrier. The means for engaging the upper leading edge of each crate when the same is elevated are shown in Figs. 5, 6, l0, and 1l, and include devices for engaging over the upper leading edge of the crate and abutting the stacking ears thereadjacent. Such devices are supported for yieldable shiftable movement. Such means include a plate 440, as shown in Fig. ll, at each side of the crate conveyor at the discharge side of the crate-supporting station. Each plate is secured to the frame 30 of the machine by means of bolts or the like 442, and includes a pair of outwardly projecting vertically spaced-apart ears 444 as shown in Fig. 5, between which extends and through which is i'ixedly received a pin 446. Mounted on the pin for vertically slidable movement is the crate-engaging device 448. Each crate-engaging device includes a pair of bearing members 450 which are received over the pin 446. Each device includes an inwardly extending arm 452 shown in Figs. 10

and ll and another arm extending in the opposite direction from arm 452 and indicated at 454, which latter arm is provided with portions 456 adapted to abut the frame 30 on opposite sides of the plate 440, as shown in Fig. 10, to prevent rotation of the device about the pin 446.

`.Adjustably connected to the arm 452 of each device 12 448 and extending into the crate-supporting station is a notched element 458, which is secured to arrn 452 by means of screws or the like 460 received through slots 462 in the element. The element 458 is provided at its outer end with a stacking ear receiving notch 464 into which the stacking ear 466 is received at that leading corner of the crate where the element is disposed. The element 458 is adapted to overlie the upper edge 468 of the crate as shown in Fig. l0. A coil spring 470 is received over pin 446 and abuts at its upper end the upper ear 444 of plate 440, and at its lower end a washer 472 which seats upon the upper bearing 450 of the device 448. The spring 470 resiliently urges the device 448 downwardly along the pin 446. As a crate is elevated by the crate-elevating and positioning mechanism, the devices 448 will give way slightly to permit the crate elevator to reach the upper limit of travel while urging the crate firmly down against the crate elevator by virtue of the springs 470. If there is any slight Variation in the height of the crates moving into the crate-positioning station, the springs 470 will compensate for the varying height of the crates.

It will be observed that the resiliently mounted cratepositioning devices 448 cooperate with the resiliently mounted crate-positioning blocks 414 on the elevating bars 406 and 408 to accurately position a crate to receive bottles during deposit by the bottle carrier. The blocks resiliently urge the crate-stacking ears against the notches 464 of the elements 458, while the latter urge the crate rearwardly against the blocks and hold the crate downwardly against the bars. In fact, a couple is established between the elements 458 and the blocks which tends to urge the rear end of the crate down against the elevating bars.

The position of the elements 458 with respect to the arms 452 limits or determines the forward position of the crates in the bottle-receiving position. By adjustment of the elements 458 the fore-and-aft position of the crates may be accurately determined.

A representative crate is shown in Figs. 9 and 10 as including four walls 474, 476, 478, and 480. Vertically spaced-apart grids 482 and 484 are disposed within each crate with the grids defining vertically aligned bottlereceiving openings 486 and 488. 'Ihese vertically aligned bottle-receiving openings form bottle-receiving cells. Each grid element may be formed of sheet metal which is bent in cross section as shown in Fig. 9. The floor of the crate may be formed by a plurality of wires 490 which extend across the bottom of the bottle-receiving cells to support the bottles in the crate. As shown in Fig. l0, the openings in the grids are only slightly larger than the outside dimensions of the bottles and because of this the bottles must be accurately spaced apart and held against unintentional swinging movement as they are lowered into the crate. While the crate shown is provided with grids of the character described, other crates may have cells defined by perpendicularly intersecting wires or by wooden partitions or the like. Each crate is provided at each corner with a stacking ear 466 heretofore mentioned.

Anti-pendulation springs In order to prevent pendulation of the bottles as they are lowered into the crate and to ensure that they pass inside of the stacking ears 466 and inside of the crate walls, I have provided, as shown in Fig. 9, a pair of oppositely disposed flexible spring elements or plates 492 and 494 which are secured to the bottle carrier at opposite sides thereof. In order to effect securement, a member 496 overlies the upper marginal edge of each of the springs, and bolts or the like 498 are received through the members and plates and threaded into the outside bottle-gripping bars 210 and 220. The springs 492 and 494 each comprises a plate formed of spring metal, the lower margin of which may be beaded as at 500 to bear against the bottles suspended from the carrier. The spring plates are adapted to ex from the position shown in solid outline in Fig. 9 to the position shown in dotted outline at 492 and 494:1.

When the bottle-gripping bars of the carrier have moved to grip a caseload of bottles in the bottle-indexing station, the spring plates are urged against the outside rows of bottles to tension such rows inwardly and prevent pendulation. As the carrier moves laterally to a position over a crate disposed in the crate-positioning station, the plates prevent the bottles from swinging as the carrier comes to an abrupt stop over the crate-positioning station at the end of is lateral movement. If a crate is disposed in the crate-positioning station and is accurately aligned to receive the bottles, the carrier immediately moves downwardly to deposit the bottles in the crate. With the spring plates 492 and 494 tending to urge the outer rows of bottles inwardly, the bases of the bottles are gmided between the opposed walls 474 and 476 and between the stacking ears. As the bottles reach the position shown in Fig. 9, their curved bases, indicated at 502, engage the rounded upper edges of the upper grid element 482 and as the carrier continues to move downwardly, the bottles enter into crate cells. The lower edges of the spring plates 492 and 494 also enter the crate as shown in the dotted outline in Fig. 9.

Continued downward movement of the carrier moves the bases of the bottles through the openings 488 in the grid 484, and when the bottles are just above the supporting wires 490, control means, hereinafter described, serve to open the bottle-gripping bars and release the bottles in the crate and thereafter the carrier reverses its movement and returns to its position at the bottle-indexing station ready to deposit another caseload of bottles.

Crate stop mechanism In order to prevent a pile-up of crates at the crate-positioning station which would interfere with the proper operation of the crate-elevating mechanism, a crate stop is provided as shown in Figs. 2, 5, and 6 at 504. Referring particularly to Figs. and 6, the crate stop includes a iiuid pressure cylinder 506 which is bolted as at 508 to a pair of plates 510 welded to the underside of conveyor chain channel 372. A piston rod 512 of the cylinder is connected to a member 514 through which extends a pin 516, at the outer ends of which are link arms 518. Each link arm is bifurcated, and pivotally connected as at 520 to a pivotally mounted crate-engaging dog 522. Each dog is pivotally supported upon one end of pin 524 which is supported by a member 526 bolted as at 52S to an L- shaped hanger 530 which is welded to the underside of conveyor chain channel 372. Upon pressurization of cylinder 506 at one end, the piston rod 512 is extended to raise the dogs to the position shown in Fig. 5, while pressurization of the opposite end of cylinder 506 will pivot the dogs downwardly such that a crate may pass thereover. When an abutting succession of crates are being fed by conveyor 376, the dogs 522 will engage the inside edge of the rear wall 480 of that crate immediately following the one in the crate-positioning station, to prevent further movement of the crate until the one in the station is lowered to the conveyor by the bars and permitted to move out of the station on the conveyor.

Operation and control circuits The operation of the machine will be described in conjunction with the electric and hydraulic control circuits diagrammatically shown in Figs. 13 and 14 as well as the location and arrangements of the various electric limit switches, some of which have been heretofore mentioned. The electric switches, relays, and valves herein shown are of conventional construction. Referring first to Fig. 14, the various uid pressure cylinders heretofore mentioned are vshown connected to the Huid pressure pump 34 by pressure and exhaust lines. Two pressure lines 532 and 534 are shown. One may be a higher pressure line than the other so that the action of the fluid pressure cylinders Will be of a correspondingly different speed and holding power. The exhaust line leading from all the cylinders and the rotary iiuid motor back to the fluid reservoir is indicated at 536.

The schematic wiring diagram of Fig. 13 shows a step down transformer 540 to reduce 220 v. to v. The pump motor 32 may be connected in the 220 v. circuit with a suitable switch provided to control its operation. An off-on switch 542 may be provided for the 110 v. control circuit. To start the machine, the switch 542 is closed to energize leads 544 and 546.

In the operation of the machine, the bottles leaving the last operation preparatory to deposit in the crates enter the machine on a single-line `conveyor in the direction of the arrow 54 in Fig. 2 and move in single le across the platform 56. When three bottles are received on the platform, the leading bottle engages the actuating lever 58 of electric switch LS-l, closing the switch, and energizing valve solenoid 548, to open valve V1 to admit tiuid pressure to the lower end of cylinder 7i), as shown in Figs. 1, 13, and 14. Thereupon the ram 64 is shifted across the platform urging the three bottles onto the triform conveyor belts 44a, 44h and 44C. As the bottles are urged onto the belts, they ride free of lever 58, releasing the lever and permitting it to pivot outward slightly, thereby opening switch LS-l. Valve V1 is thereupon actuated by a built-in spring to reverse the fluid pressure flow into cylinder 70, to return the ram to the starting position. The next three bottles in a similar fashion follow these three after the ram 64 has returned to its initial position. In such fashion bottles are continuously fed to the triform conveyor 44.

The bottles move on the conveyor 44 toward the bottleindexing station and are urged across the plate 150, shown in Fig. 12, and onto the bottlx-supporting platform 112. When the platform 112 is filled with a caseload of bottles, the leading three Ibottles Bd which first entered the indexing station are urged against the plungers 166 of limit switches LS-6, LS-7 and LS-S to depress the plungers with the bottles finally coming to rest against the back stop 206. Upon depression of the plungers, the switches LS-6i, LS-7 and LS-S are closed, serving to energize, as shown in Fig. 13, a time delay relay TD and relay solenoid G. Relay solenoid G closes its switch GR, and opens GR2, which in turn energizes valve solenoid SSG and cle-energizes valve solenoid S52, thereby shifting valve V5 to admit iiuid pressure to the left end of cylinder 262 as viewed in Figs. 9 and 14 to effect gripping of the bottles by the `gripping hars 210, 212, 214, 216, 218 and 22|).

When the bottles have been ygripped by the bars the time interval of the time delay relay expires closing relay switch TDR and causing ener-gization of relay solenoid F. With F energized, switches FRl and FR2 are respectively closed and opened, energizing valve solenoid S54 and deenergizing valve solenoid 556, and thereby eiiecting a shifting of valve V6 to admit fluid pressure to the lower end of cylinder to drop table 112. When table 112 drops away from beneath the bottles they are suspended by the bottle-gripping bars in the bottle-indexing station, and the spring plates 492 and 494 tension the outside rows of bottles inwardly.

At the time that the table 112 is dropped, the switches LS-6, LS-7 and LS-S are retracted, and the bottle fence 154 is raised to prevent bottles remaining on the triform conveyor 44 from interfering with the transfer of the gripped bottles out of the indexing station, and to prevent entry of the bottles on the conveyor into the indexing station until the empty ybottle carrier has returned to the indexing station.

As the table 112 drops, pin 122, shown in Fig. l2, engages the roller 558 on switch LS-11 actuating arm 560. Switch LS-11 is mounted on the frame 30 of the machine 

